I may have mentioned at one time the story of my salvation and the first Bible verse that God showed me after it happened. I won’t go through it again, but I will bring back that verse – Proverbs 16:25. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
That those words meant something to me at that moment is evidence itself of the Holy Spirit’s work. I’m reminded of a couple of verses from Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church – “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned (1 Cor 2:14),” and “The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Cor 1:18).” Before I was saved, I could’ve read Proverbs 16:25 dozens of times and thought nothing of it. But at that moment, it was so clear to me: I thought I was doing everything right, but I wasn’t. And like every single person who doesn’t know Jesus Christ as their savior, tragically so. The consequences here aren’t a matter of “Oh well, better luck next time.”
But when you do know him?
There’s a song by Kings Kaleidescope called Gone. It’s a beautiful song about not living up to life’s expectations — about being filled with feelings of self-doubt and failure while on the outside looking like you’ve got it together. I’m thinking that’s a theme common to a lot of people. The struggles are definitely real, but the song puts it in perspective for the Christian by ending with the sweet words of Psalm 16:
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
As I read that Psalm this morning, I was especially drawn to the words, “You make know to me the path of life.” That’s what happened that day I was on that road that seemed right to me but would have eventually ended me. He showed me the path of life.
This is how it is for the Christian. The assurance that no matter how bad things seem – no matter how much life may seem to be crashing down upon you – still, you dwell secure. Adopted, not abandoned. On the path of life where one day there will be fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.
And to be put on that path, you only need to receive the free gift that puts you there.